Clear Wing Moth (Nyridela xanthocera)

Photo by LaurenZarate

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Description:

I found this amazing moth in the rain in a parking lot (last picture) and brought him home to get dry and to take pictures of him before letting him go in a safe place. It was metallic blue with bright yellow-orange antennae and looks very much like a spider wasp. Family Erebidae, Arctiinae.

Habitat:

Came to the parking lights of a shopping mall, San Cristobal de Las Casas, 2,200 meters

Notes:

There is an identical specimen reported from Belize (see reference).
See also another spotting from Chiapas, Mexico in July 2016 http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/521642256/fullscreen.

Reference Links:

Moths of Belize Nyridela xanthocera Family Arctiidae: Subfamily Ctenuchinae

Species ID Suggestions

Clearwing Moth

Nyridela xanthocera

Reference Link

bayucca

+ vote

Comments (8)

LaurenZarate

Thank you so much bayucca. I am thrilled you found it. I couldn't find it. Maybe it has not been reported from Mexico prior to this one.

bayucca

Erebida, Arctiina, Arctiini, Nyridela sp. nd most probably Nyridela xanthocera. http://www.flickr.com/photos/31595561@N05/8745862980 There are some other common ones: Chaliope and Acroxantha and a lot of confusion about the names. Nyridela xanthocera is in my eyes the only with complitely yellow antennae.

Thank you Jemma :)

amazing antenna!

Thank you Maria :)

Especially like the third photo!

LaurenZarate

Thank you Luis, I agree! I always have mine with me too!

LuisStevens

Great find! That's why I try to take my pocket camera everywhere I go, you never know what you are going to find.